Becoming Sovereign: The Energy Behind Thoughts, Words & Actions That String, Tie & Bind

What would change if you could be more aware of the energy behind thoughts, words and actions?

The words you think, and the words you speak, hold power. The same is true for your actions. And you can bring others (energy) into the picture when you think, say or do things that involve them.

We can easily tie our energy to others by the things that we think, say or do.

This concept is shamanic in nature (spirit-based) and was/is understood by ancient and indigenous cultures from around the world.

‘Tying energy’ is not innately negative. It can be used for specific beneficial purposes. However, for the purpose of this blog, we will focus on how this kind of energy can be significantly limiting…

How you think, how you speak, or how you do something significantly influences the power of underlying energy…

It’s less about WHAT you think, say or do…but HOW!

Energy is much more complex than we often realize.

It lives within everything and can be easily influenced – whether by our own doing, by others, by our family and friends, by our environment (past or present), by nature or spirit, and more.

Things like intention, purpose and resonance influence the underlying energy behind thoughts, words and actions.

The type of thought and the direction it leads affects the energy that’s behind it.

Tone, cadence and volume affect the energy behind words.

The feeling that you have as you do something affects the energy that fuels an action.

There are many other factors!

Have you ever noticed the presence of an energetic string that was attached to something that was said or done to or for you?

For example, when someone says one thing, but means something else. Or when someone does one thing, but anticipates something else in return, with or without full disclosure or consent. Perhaps you have said or done things in this way too.

Energetic strings can easily live within expectations, anticipations, obligations, debts and more.

Shamanically, strings can also live within curses, oaths, vows, promises, dedications, devotions, traumas (abuse, neglect, manipulation, etc.) and more.

Strings, ties and bindings come into play when a certain kind of underlying energy is not at the forefront of an exchange in a clear and communicative way.

When something is strung, tied or bound, it locks the energy into a specific place or aspect for a specific reason or purpose, which then helps it to stay put. This typically creates a negative energetic influence.

When you expect something, you can easily end up tying an energetic string to that potential outcome. This might lead you into an unfavorable territory if the outcome doesn’t come to be in the way you expected (ex. disappointment). If I have an expectation about something, I also invite a level of openness, discovery and trust in that things naturally unfold in the best of ways, even if I don’t understand how or why. To me, this is a practice of having an intention while surrendering to the outcome.

The same is true for anticipations, which are quite similar energetically to expectations. When you anticipate, you could be reaching a string to that thing, which would then pull you from your body, and the present space and time, towards what it is that you’re anticipating or expecting. These energies could surface as anxiety, having a ‘busy’ or ‘distracted’ mind, feeling disconnected from current sensations and feelings in the body, and in some cases, the experience of catastrophic thinking (worse-case scenarios playing over and over).

The energy of obligation tends to go hand-in-hand with energetic strings. When you feel obligated to do or say something, you are being pulled in the direction of that string, regardless of if you want it/to or not. This generally does not feel good. Obligation tends to create feelings of guilt or even shame if it’s not fulfilled, regardless of the bigger energetic picture at play.

Debts without a doubt create energetic strings – Hopefully ones that are fully agreed to and deemed of worth to the holder of the debt. Debts that appear after-the-fact (ex. through the ‘you owe me’ mentality) represent the existence of energetic strings that were not originally at the surface, nonetheless still existed. I think about the giving of a “gift” that actually had strings attached. Or how some parents can make their children feel indebted to them simply because they are their parents, without consideration of their children’s best interest, or if they even served their children well at a larger scale.

In the simplest of terms, a curse is a very common kind of energetic climate that places a hold on an individual’s space, which limits, restricts or governs their destiny in unfavorable or undesirable ways, typically through repeating patterns, behaviors, situations and outcomes. A curse is a type of foreign energy, which means it’s not authentic or original to those affected. Although, the energy of the curse still lives within or overshadows those affected through a negative influence.

Curses can include the energy of strings, ties and bindings. This would in turn anchor the limiting climate and negative influence of the curse even more into the spaces of effect through having additional energies that, for example, keep it in place or hold what is being tied or pinned. To learn more about curses, read this blog: What is a CURSE?! Are They Common? – Surrender to Soul Healing & Wellness Blog (surrendertosoulwellnessblog.com)

Oaths, vows and promises can easily create strings that bind the receiver of the oath, vow or promise to what is sworn to, for or by. Cultures including the Norse (Viking), Gaelic (Irish/Scottish), Old English and many others have detailed accounts of these energies existing within them.

If a dedication or devotion is made, it’s possible that the dedicate-ee or devote-ee creates energetic strings that intertwines them with what the dedication or devotion is to or for. Hindu culture, amongst others, have this imbued in their cosmology.

When working with these energies, it’s important to consider the terms put in place and the life span of the energy.

It’s quite common to overlook these things upon the creation of the energy, regardless of how it comes to be.

Energies can be put in place for a specific purpose and length of time, which would then hold firm for that period of time, sometimes even if circumstances change.

It’s possible for these to remain in effect throughout various lifetimes of the soul and/or affect generational lines and/or the lands we live on or come from.

Note: In my experience, almost all kinds of these energies are workable and do NOT have to continue in the same manner. Most things are able to be cleared, reworked or renegotiated – given new levels of awareness, circumstances and the individual’s right to their own optimal well-being.

This might propel you to think about or feel into how energies of the like may be influencing your well-being…

Energy lives within and fuels everything – therefore it influences and manifests within your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Your well-being is connected to the concept of sovereignty –

Sovereignty is a birthright that means you have the right to be in service to your own well-being in an authentic and beneficial manner.

With sovereignty, you have the ability to be your own self-governing individual, with agency and authority over your energy, thoughts, beliefs, choices and actions, so that they are of benefit and in right relation to you. Becoming sovereign includes becoming aware of your energetic space and what lives within or in accordance with it.

One of my teachers, Betsy Bergstrom, speaks beautifully about these teachings.

Betsy shares that becoming sovereign is a path, and our relationship to sovereignty grows and evolves over time, just as we do. Learn more about Betsy’s work here: About | Spirit-Wise

Sovereignty comes into play if there are energetic strings (created through a thought, expression or action) that tie or bind the sovereignty of those involved together (under a specific set of terms, conditions and period of time).

Some people have more power at their disposal to harness or create these energies.

Strings, ties or bindings can be created with love, or with the opposite, and anything in between.

There is an amount of intent involved, although it could be from a sub/unconscious place. And intent doesn’t equal impact. Even with the best of intentions, the impact can become something different.

When we’re stringed to something, we’re connected to it and influenced by it, whether we want it, like it, agree with it, or not.

There are many factors to consider when working with these energies.

Sometimes we do not or cannot fully understand what we’re getting ourselves into, or what we’re energetically agreeing to, or what is being forced onto us, or what still stands today even if the circumstances or arrangement has changed.

It’s possible to create energetic strings where your sovereignty and the sovereignty of someone/something else becomes intertwined. This means your will and the will of someone/something else is also intertwined.

Will is an aspect of sovereignty that influences personal power, energy levels, drive, sense of self, vitality, lifeforce and more.

I tend to visualize the tying or binding of sovereignty or will as a braid. The different sources of will can be braided together into one.

When your will is tied to someone else’s, or vice versa, there is a shift of influence.

This alters the field of energy that you share and impacts each individual (energetic) space of those involved. The quality of energy, thinking, expression, behavior, desire, motivation, even life path direction and more can be influenced as a result.

Energy is influenced much more often than we would like to think or realize.

It’s possible for an influence of the like to be of benefit, if there is conscious consent, understanding and choice for all parties involved, and if there is a potential for renegotiation if/when circumstances change.

It’s likely for these energetic situations to become undesirable or unfavorable if things are forced, withheld, repressed (sub/unconscious), altered, unknown, or coming to be through ulterior motives.

Often there is a lack of consent or comprehension about the totality of what’s happening, what or who’s involved, what the arrangement entails, for how long, and why.

Ancient and indigenous cultures knew/know that when something is thought, voiced or acted upon, it creates a line of energy that directs the soul.

For example, cultures have been intentionally tying or weaving prayer into reality through clothing, jewelry, tapestries, carpets, flags, baskets and more, which brings the energy of the intention and the energy of blessing into the everyday world.

Where and how is your soul being influenced, directed or affected through what you think… how you think it…what you say…how you say it…what you do…and how you do it?

There is a lot to consider here.

I work with clients to provide support, clarity and healing regarding these energies (whether it has occurred in this life, a past life, or in a client’s generational line) in my private practice, Surrender to Soul Healing & Wellness.

Personally, I always strive for conscious intent, consent and comprehension. This is a work in progress.

We want to empower ourselves and others to make rightful and authentic choices and actions that are beneficial and supportive of well-being, firstly personally and therefore collectively. I believe what is in alignment with (the greatest and highest version of) personal well-being is also in alignment with (the greatest and highest) collective well-being.

We want to advocate for our own and one another’s sovereignty.

We don’t give ourselves enough credit to honor and acknowledge the power and influence we have over our own world, and the world of someone/something else.

Part of our personal and collective healing work resides in becoming sovereign through becoming aware of the energy behind thoughts, words and actions.

Awareness of strings, ties or bindings can be elusive, shadowed or hidden to those being influenced. Sometimes, a shift occurs in life that brings forth the clarity of need.

Whether of your own doing or someone/something else’s, in the past or the present, it is possible to work with these energies through a variety of energy, intuitive and shamanic healing techniques.

These kinds of energies require an attuned eye to neutrally, objectively and clearly view the energetic situation, so it can be tended to in a way that’s compassionate, ease-ful, functional, sustainable, graceful and beneficial for the well-being of the client.

You do not have to suffer through the negative influence of these energies on your own. And, you do not have to try to repair them on your own!

If you feel you have been subjected to or involved in something of the like, there are many ways that you can bring more awareness into the workings of your energetic space. Things like yoga, breathwork, meditation, journaling, self-reflection, specialized therapeutic support and/or energy work encourage and promote this.

It is possible to move forward with greater sovereignty, truth, authenticity, power, potential, freedom and flow!

I offer a FREE Discovery Consult for all new clients. Don’t hesitate to reach out or schedule – Let’s discuss what’s going on and how we can work with it.

May your day be blessed and beautiful.

With Love Always,

Shanin | Surrender to Soul Healing & Wellness

Gratitude Leads to Joy

It’s May already!

I am loving this transitional time of increased energy, activation, and action. The sunshine feels so good on my skin, and the warmth touches my soul. We are entering a time where everything is in motion; there is little left stagnant.

Roots are growing, seeds are sprouting, flowers are blooming, trees are blossoming, and we are rising too, in sync with life around us.

Perhaps you can feel yourself gaining upward or outward momentum to manifest your creations! Although, we must remain mindful that seeds do not manifest into trees or flowers or a full-grown vegetables overnight. We must honor our process that is the growth, accepting that it occurs in perfect time. Spring is a new beginning of sorts, much like when the sun rises in the East come every dawn. There is so much stirring around and within us…aliveness, excitement, joy!

I recently watched a Netflix special called “Brene Brown: The Call to Courage”. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend giving yourself the time to. Brene Brown is a researcher and an author, and she has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. I love her down-to-earth and relatable personality.

A few topics stood out to me…

Through her research, Brene has interacted with many who have lost loved ones. She found out that what they miss the most about their loved ones is actually the most ordinary moments. They do not miss the extraordinary.

Also through her research, Brene discovered that some people have a hard time experiencing joy. When some people feel joy, it is counteracted by immediately thinking the joy will be taken away or replaced by something hurtful. She gave the example of a mother gazing at her child sleeping. The mother is feeling joyful and is overwhelmed with love for her child, but then has a sudden vision of her child getting very ill or even dying. She becomes fearful instead of joyful. In contrast, she found out that there is one thing in common for those that do fully embrace joy – Gratitude.

Gratitude Leads to Joy.

It is so common to strive for the extraordinary – whether that be in your work, your business, your hobbies, your athleticism, your personal growth, your spiritual enlightenment… whatever it may be! Having passion and determination is great, but it is usually the ordinary and everyday moments that we end up taking for granted without even realizing it.

The moments that are ordinary hold the most magic and will be the most missed.

This is baffling and at the same time, liberating! Sure, the extraordinary will give you a boost when achieving dreams or healing miraculously, but it is the simple and the mundane that hold the power to bring us everlasting Joy. And if we invite Gratitude into our lives, it will surely carve the way.

Gratitude is the highest vibrational emotion we can feel. Energetically, Gratitude exudes outward from our heart spaces and ripples throughout the Universe like magnetic sonar waves, bringing us back abundance, love, and Joy. Gratitude, much like forgiveness, will always show us more. It will continue to expand our heart’s awareness and our ability to have thanks and to offer thanks. This is very important in order to live a fulfilled life. Gratitude teaches us over and over again how to be thankful for what we have, for what we have experienced, and for all of the ordinary day-to-day moments that we actually treasure dearly.

If we allow ourselves the proper permission to cultivate feelings of Gratitude, Joy is bound to follow.

What are you grateful for?

XOXO,

Shanin Weisberg

Surrender to Soul Wellness

Enhance. Embody. Empower.

The Balance of Give and Receive

Happy April!

I’ve just returned from a road trip through the Southwest with my sweetie. We traveled through New Mexico and Colorado as we stopped to soak in healing waters and bathe in luminous rays, surrounded by the natural world! It was a mellow getaway spent with family and friends, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do so. You could say that I spent my time on vacation “receiving”.

The Balance of Give and Receive is SO important for the greater enjoyment, ease, and fulfillment of our lives on Earth. These two opposing (but complementary) energies can be witnessed and experienced simply as what we put out into the world and also what we take from the world.

You may also interpret Give/Receive as the Masculine and Feminine energies that exist within and without, above and below. Within us, we have this represented by the seemingly symmetrical sides of our Earth-Bodies. Our right side is our Masculine side – which I describe as active, outward, exertion, ascending, and giving. Our left side is our Feminine side – which I describe as passive, inward, healing, descending, and receiving. You may also interpret this through the spirit of Mother Earth below and the spirit of Father Sky above. Mother Earth is the ultimate representation of the Feminine, and Father Sky is the Masculine. Together they form two halves of one greater whole, much like our Earth-Bodies. In Chinese Philosophy, what I speak of here is widely known as the balance of Yin and Yang.

This balance occurs in every breath – your inhale meets your exhale, which then meets your inhale as the cycle begins again and again. Your inhale needs your exhale (and visa versa) to be a complete breath. Light and Dark, Sun and Moon, Earth and Sky, Strength and Surrender, Fire and Water… there are endless examples of the harmonizing opposition of Give and Receive.

Perhaps you feel called to one side versus the other. Perhaps you are more likely to Give rather than Receive or Receive rather than Give. Perhaps you spend your days in action, moving from inward to outward rather than resting, moving outward to inward. Or perhaps it is the opposite.

HOME PRACTICE: Have no judgment, resistance, or attachment as you engage in any of the following practices (contemplation, meditation, shamanic journey, yoga, dance, walk, journal, etc.) that feels like a match for YOU to gain clarity. Hold the clear intention in your heart space to discover how you are in relation with Give and Receive, and be open to experience your own inner wisdom. Perhaps you may even come to a revelation of how to gain greater balance of these two energies in your Life, because we certainly need both!

We as humans are always striving to find balance. This appears fundamentally when we become tired or feel energized, become hungry or feel full, or even when we are sweating or have the chills. Balance is always something that we are reaching for physically, energetically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. This occurs every day, every hour, every minute – whether we are aware of it or not. There is also great wisdom to be said in that there is NO true, concrete place of balance! We are always ebbing and flowing at every moment to “find” it. If we can bring in more AWARENESS around what we need to “work on”, it will act as a powerful ally on our journey closer.

When in “right” relation with Give AND Receive, we will experience Life as truly satisfied, wholesome, and healthy beings! We are on our path towards it <3

Please check out my website for my latest offerings, workshops, and more. Visitwww.surrendertosoulwellness.com

Surrender to Soul Wellness

Enhance. Embody. Empower.

With Love Always,

Shanin Weisberg

Yoga Teacher, Shamanic Energy Healer, & Chef

Home Practice: Bless Your Home

You can easily bless your home (or any space) through your thoughts, words, and actions.

STEP ONE: Begin at your front door or the entrance to your space. As you walk in, look around and start to mindfully walk the perimeter of the room, slowly making your way through each part of your home.

STEP TWO: Gaze at your space with the feeling and the thoughts you wish to reflect onto your space – peace, comfort, safety, healing, etc. (You may choose to carry your favorite crystal or burn your favorite herb or wood as you do this.) Invite an inner feeling of Love and hold the clear intention to Bless in your heart center.

STEP THREE: Sounds are a powerful tool that create our reality. Words, songs, and incantations can be a promising way to deliver a potent Blessing. Here is an incantation I have used that is quite simple but effective: “Bless this house. Bless this home. Heal this house. Heal this home. Love this house. Love this home.” You may repeat this as many times as you feel called as you walk around each room, being sure to walk the edges and corners. You may also replace the words house/home with space/place or any other word(s) that feels right. It may feel right for you to touch certain objects in your space, or move your hands in an organic magical way as you repeat the incantation. I would recommend repeating the incantation at least 3 times all the way through out loud with conviction, certainty, and feeling.

STEP FOUR: Once you have made it through the entire space, return to the center of the space or to the center of your home. Close your eyes and breathe for several moments into this Blessing that you have bestowed into your space. Thank yourself, and notice what you feel. Record any experience or reaction as you feel called to.

Always Love,

XOXO

Shanin Weisberg

Yoga Teacher, Diet Coach, Shamanic Energy Healer

Surrender to Soul Wellness

Enhance. Embody. Empower.

*First image of me was taken by Annabelle. Please check out her work here http://www.annabelledenmark.com/*

Own Your Power: You Create Your World

Happy Holiday & Winter Season!

I hope you are enjoying this healing, dark time of year as the sun shines less and the moon shines more.

I used to really dislike winter…you know…the cold, the lack of sun, the longer nights. But recently, I have found the sheer beauty and comfort in being home cozy, rested, reflective, and mostly in the dark.

The photo above was taken just as the season was changing to fall…I am in Rocky Mountain National State Park surrounded by mountain air, water, sunshine, and rock. I love this image because it beautifully shows the balance between light and dark, and also because there is an awesome orb glowing with the color of my Lifeforce – bright blue! 😀

The seasons are a great example of the entire spectrum available to us in the Universe. We have spring/summer (the light side) and fall/winter (the dark side). For most of my life, I was labeling or judging the dark (winter) as “less-than” instead of viewing it as an equal part of the greater whole.

The distinction between light and dark can be compared to many oppositions and reflections that are parts of one total whole….good and bad, self and other, earth and universe… there are an infinite amount of examples. When we open our perceptions to see the totality of each experienced spectrum, we also open to the beauty and the healing in each and every part. One gives definition to the other. We know there would be no light without dark, no good without bad, no self without other, and no earth without the universe.

Through our perception do we actually create each experience we have.

Through our perception do we actually create the Universe.

And the Universe always responds.

Shamanically, it is believed that we actually dream the world into being. I first learned this from teacher Sandra Ingerman. We dream the world into being through our thoughts, beliefs, actions, and perceptions. Because we are all a part of the Universe, we are all co-creating this world together. Individually, we have our personalized belief systems for which we base our own perceptions and actions around. And yes, surely some overlap with the “collective” as well. The “collective” is defined by me as being the Universal “way” dreamed into all of our beings by centuries of programmed beliefs, actions, and behaviors of mankind.

When the veil of illusion lifts away, when you begin to SEE the truth of your reality – things actually become a bit lighter and certainly clearer! We consciously begin to understand our most in depth under-the-surface workings, our unique code to how we function and perceive reality. You can call this getting to know our subconscious or unconscious Self. And, we actually build the foundation for our Life through our subconscious and unconscious Self – these parts we are mostly unfamiliar with.

We certainly dream our world into being through our deepest parts such as these…

Give yourself a moment to look within yourself for your answers:

With awareness, gaze around you…shift your perspective so that you may be able to SEE the whole…then ask yourself…

How does my home space reflect me, both in feeling (vibe) and appearance (cleanliness & organization)?
How does my work reflect me?
How do the actions I have taken reflect me?
How does my experience of yesterday reflect me?
How does my attitude about tomorrow reflect me today?
How am I thinking, feeling, acting and how does that reflect this perceivable moment right now?

…

Our perception and perspective begins with us, always.

We create our Life because we are Life!

We create our experience because we are the Creation!

We are Creation itself as it witnesses itself!

….

We are a unique and valued part of the whole of the Universe.

Own your Power.

How do you create your world?

Always Love,

XOXO

Shanin Weisberg

Yoga Teacher, Diet Coach, Shamanic Energy Healer

Surrender to Soul Wellness

Enhance. Embody. Empower.

Nature’s Spiral

Happy November!

In the photo, I am holding myself while at a beautiful Women’s Retreat tucked away in the mountains with Lori Glazebrook & photographer Annabelle Denmark. I helped to cook the delicious Soul Food for this retreat. And for those of you that have visited my website or know me well, know that I LOVE to get my hands on food to infuse it and cook with LOVE. What a beautiful blessing to attend and share one of my passions!

The gorgeous and raw photo above was taken by Annabelle. Please check out more of her work at http://www.annabelledenmarkportraits.com/.

The image of me is pretty telling. During the shoot, I naturally curled up in the dark corner and hugged myself tight. In this image, I feel my present-self whispering to my “inner child” – “It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re held. I love you.”

The last few weeks have been “turbulent” times for me you could say – as I have been navigating through family emergency, illness, nerve pain, unexpected & expected travel, workshops/classes/retreats (teaching & attending), and a lot of emotions along the way.

However, such is life. Our human existence is challenging, and it will always have those clearly challenging sections or bumps along the way.

Challenge is an invitation to grow.

Challenge is an invitation to check in.

Challenge is an invitation to feel.

I feel deeply within myself that there is a teaching in every experience, every emotion, every turbulent or every blissful time. Through LIVING, we learn about ourselves. Through EXPERIENCING, we open ourselves to receive guidance, insight, and teachings as we continue onward on the wild journey of life on Earth.

It has been a reoccurring theme for me to honor MY needs first…so that I may continue to serve, support, and love others. This has been a constant teaching, a constant “checking in”, a constant “What do I need?” as I’ve moved through the last few weeks.

My needs showed up such as:

driving a bit further to buy myself my organic groceries while traveling
saying “no” to a workshop I already signed up for
allowing myself to nap or rest more if needed
or simply holding myself (like in the portrait) during this cycle of healing and renewal.

I’ve learned over the years that even if Life appears as smooth sailing or seemingly “easy”, my path continues to unveil itself and spiral in a circular orientation. I have days or weeks where I am full of lifeforce, prana, or creative energy as I go about my daily tasks, teachings, healings, workouts, cooking, etc. This is the “outward” or “upward” time of my cycle or circular path. In opposition, I have days or weeks where I am drawing inward. During this time, I am needing holding, rest, rejuvenation, and additional support. Neither is better or worse than the other, and the timeline for each opposing cycle is unknown and different during every rotation.

You can observe this spiral in nature all around us…from as big as images of the universe to smaller images of hurricanes to as small as images of a seashell. Of course, there is a mathematical foundation to this characteristic of the Cosmos – it is called the Fibonacci Sequence, also known as the Golden Ratio.

But to me, I call it Nature’s Spiral.

I have integrated this teaching into a deeper level of my being recently. I “knew” this tendency about my path, but I was still holding onto a certain level of resistance for the “inward” or “downward” portion the spiral. I realized how beautiful, soft, and simple this time can be, and it doesn’t make it “less than” or “worse than” the opposition (even though society teaches us to push, grind, and force our way through).

I believe Nature’s Spiral occurs in all of us with different varying degrees and opposition, whether we are aware of it or not…

Try to soften your mind, open your heart, expand your ability to reflect and find out for yourself…

Home Practice

STEP ONE: Find or take a moment to pause, slow down, and reflect. This can be anywhere. Invite a few deep breaths in and out to enter the present moment. Once you feel ready, ask yourself “How am I feeling today”? Do I feel tired? Do I feel energized? Do I feel introspective, joyful, sad, carefree, depleted, tender, overwhelmed? If you could pick one emotion to describe how you are feeling, what would that be?

*This is a great practice to do for several days/weeks straight. It can be simple, and I promise will get easier as you practice. You may choose to record your answers in a journal to reflect on later.

STEP TWO: Inhale a lengthened low belly breath; this time, exhale and offer the breath out of your mouth. This breath can be however gentle or loud as necessary. Repeat this style of breathing, and notice until you feel your inner awareness shift down (out of your mind and into your Heart Center, or perhaps even lower into Belly Center). It is much easier to connect to the wisdom of your true essence through the body; additionally, be mindful that it is impossible to connect to your being if you are lost in your mind’s chatter (own it if you are!). Furthermore, once you are fully relaxed into your body, guided by your exhales – ask yourself “What do I need in this moment?” Not what your mind wants you to do; not what other people want you to do; not what your job wants you to do. What do YOU need?

*This need comes from the wisdom within the body or from the “Higher Self” if you will. Honor the answer you receive. Act on your need in the perfect time for you.

STEP THREE: Reflect on the last few weeks of your life (or your journal entries). What do you notice? What Wisdom is to be gained through reflecting on your own cycle? Is there some sort of pattern asking to be seen?

*Mentally reflect or write your insight down in your journal.

Please reach out with any comments or questions about your experience(s)! <3

As Always – So Much Love & Gratitude,

Shanin Weisberg

Yoga Teacher, Diet Coach, Energy Healer

Surrender to Soul Wellness

Enhance. Embody, Empower.

If you feel called, check out my humble offerings on my website here.

Conscious Eating

This is a huge part of my life.

So often in today’s society we have completely lost our personal relationship to the food we eat. More specifically, we have lost our connection and lost our gratitude for how our food is grown, where it is grown, how it travels to us, and most of the time even how it is cooked before we eat it. Generally speaking, food as we know it exists only right before it enters our mouths. ☹

There is DEEP healing in not only how we interact and respect our food, in not only the quality of the food we choose to eat, in not only how our food was grown, but in the ENTIRE process of eating. For most of us, that is the shopping, preparing, cooking, eating, cleaning cycle that occurs when we touch, infuse, and respect our food by preparing it ourselves.

We become humbled by this process, because you are right – it is far from “convenient” in today’s world. Although, convenience and health can be two opposing things. Maybe for some of us, we are able to have our own gardens and grow our own food, or buy from a local farmer. This year, I have harvested cucumbers, romaine, green leaf, watermelon, zucchini, squash, herbs, and more!

There is something really profound about caring for your food as it grows before it even hits your fridge.

But, we are really blessed either way.

We have a surplus of grocery stores around us carrying healthy & organic produce, meat, and anything we could possibly need or even want. I do not have to grow all my own food because there are plenty of talented organic farmers around doing that for me (thankfully). I can literally walk to a grocery store from my house and buy clean, nutrient-dense food. How awesome is that!

As the season’s shift, it is a beautiful time to slow it down, check in, and pay attention to the small joys in our Earth life – like preparing or truly enjoying a delicious meal. The turn of the seasons is a beautiful time to honor the fall harvest – whatever you are harvesting (however subtle it may be).

And no matter the season, the food we choose to put into our bodies as fuel is directly related to our level of health and our potential level of health. You have probably heard the saying “You are either fighting or feeding disease with every bite”. I realize this can be quite overwhelming because we are habitual creatures, and it may be hard to break those habits. BUT, there are 4 simple principles I teach so that you can improve the quality of the food you eat AND improve your relationship to the food you eat as well.

4 Simple Ways to Improve Your Health:

Cut back on processed foods (foods in the middle of the grocery isles – anything boxed, packaged, etc.). Most of these foods have no nutritional content, and they are filled with sugars, grains, artificial flavors & colorings, preservatives, GMOs, and more icky ingredients. Be sure to check the nutrition label for sneaky ingredients that could feed disease.
Cut back on gluten, dairy, and refined sugars & fats. Simply put, these will absolutely correlate with the levels of inflammation and toxicity in your body. Plus, nowadays there are amazing healthy alternatives.
Have respect for your food! Honor where it’s been before it hits your plate – it matters. Taking a moment before you eat at a restaurant or at home to offer your thanks and your love to the food can completely shift how your body will digest and metabolize it. This is specifically important if you do not buy, touch, cook, or connect in some way to your food before you eat it. Your intention is everything!
Have compassion! Be kind to yourself. The beauty is in the process…

CONTEMPLATE or JOURNAL:

Am I connecting with the food I eat? Am I honoring my food? Am I honoring my health?
How can I improve my connection to my food?
What are 1 or 2 simple changes I can make that will help me honor my food more authentically?
What is a personal, reasonable goal for my own Conscious Eating in a year from now?

Conscious Eating Meditation

Eat a meal with wholehearted, conscious awareness.

Sounds simple, right?

You can find the right time to do this no matter where you are. Trust that you will know when is the “right time”.

Give yourself permission to set aside the everyday worries of your world.

Give yourself permission to let go of the grasps of the mind. Let go of the mind’s tendencies to attach, resist, or judge; and instead, simply allow yourself to experience the present moment in your body. This is important: Put aside all distractions (tv, phone, radio, etc). You will not need them.

Allow yourself to become immersed in the sensations of eating. Indulge in the smell of your food. Taste the flavors as they interact with each other in your mouth. Feel the changing textures as you chew and swallow. Let this be a full body experience. Allow your body to experience the experience of eating with gratitude, with love, and with presence. Allow every bite to dive you deeper into the magic of eating consciously.

Notice what shifts; notice what comes up; notice what evolves; notice how you feel when you finish.

Please reach out with comments, questions, or if I can support you in any way through your journey of Conscious Eating. Many Blessings.

XOXOXO,

Shanin Weisberg

Yoga Teacher, Diet Coach, Energy Healer

https://surrendertosoulwellness.com/

Contact me @ [email protected]

Trust in YOUR Path

It is a bittersweet time of year for me, as I am such a summer baby, but actually I am quite excited for fall in CO (hopefully it lasts longer than 1 week – haha ?).

MMM I can taste pumpkin already… (check out my recipe for this month below).

Schools are back in session, nights are colder, days are becoming shorter, and the rhythm of life continues on. As much as I love waking up to the sun shining beautiful luminous rays through my bedroom window in summer, there is something magical about waking up to darkness, stillness, calmness – and observing the light as it emerges and encompasses, waking up Earth (at least on our side ?).

As we begin to shift into another season, our internal rhythms will naturally shift as well to follow what is occurring outside of us. There is great wisdom and balance in the creative workings of life – the macro and the micro. Our bodies may inform us of these changes such as going to sleep earlier or waking up later than before, yearning for more time to slow down & reboot, or a little extra cozy snuggling on the couch with a blanket and your favorite book or movie or podcast. There are endless ways YOUR body could show you – unique to you. Although, it is 100% up to YOU if you listen and respond mentally to this innate craving, or brush it off to the side because of life’s sheer business and scheduled structure. I know for me personally, I can already feel myself turning inward to reflect, recharge, and expand my awareness to learn about things that interest me.

The other night I was watching an awesome show on Netflix called “The Code” and it really stirred up a continuing contemplation of my own

How much Trust do we truly feel for the manifestation of our own unique Path?

The episode I was watching explained the mathematical code that contains the manifesting Universe, in reference to Nature herself. Proven now by mathematical formulae, there is a Universal Order to the intricate workings of Earth and Earth’s Beings. Bees naturally take the path of least effort and resistance as they make their honeycomb – they choose the hexagon shape (instead of a triangle or square) no matter where they are in the world. This shape allows them to use the smallest amount of wax to build their home. Based on fractal geometry, we know this to be absolute truth. The definition of a “fractal” is a non-regular geometric shape that has the same degree of non-regularity on all scales. Fractal geometry is everywhere! From trees to stone formations to brain waves to bubble formations to flowers and bacteria. I like to think of fractal geometry as “ordered chaos”. That sounds like Life – doesn’t it? ?

I love merging the Science and the Spiritual, SO even in times of hardship or suffering, there is still a Universal Order occurring moment by moment – a Divine Timeline for our Path & the events, experiences, and sensations along it. The manifesting Universe has our backs; it will provide us the Path of least resistance & least effort naturally (even if it doesn’t seem so). We are continuously moving, divinely guided through Life – no matter the number of perceivable detours, roadblocks, or bumps that appear on our Path.

I ponder how many of us, myself included sometimes, resist the natural flow, manifestation, and “ordered chaos” that is our Life. Sometimes is quite hard to see the Divine unfolding of our Path – but I promise you, it is without-a-doubt manifesting perfectly – unique to YOU.

XOXOXO,

Shanin Weisberg

Yoga Teacher, Diet Coach, Energy Healer

Surrender to Soul Wellness

Enhance. Embody. Empower.

Check out my website here!

Are you Conscious of your own Aliveness?

Are you conscious of your ability to witness, contain, and harness the power that resides in YOU? The power that is the essence of creationary lifeforce itself. (Woah! ?)

Are you conscious of the very lifeforce that pulsates through your being at any given moment? Do you offer yourself time & space to connect to your OWN lifeforce?

The creative energy that fuels all life manifests in our own bodies as our breath, heartbeat, blood flow, a stream of thoughts, emotion, sensation, and more.

Do you revel in the sheer Aliveness that is YOU?

…. Or are you “sleeping” your way through *human* life? Are you on autopilot for most, if not all, of your “time” or days? Are you too distracted or restricted by the artificial rhythms placed in modern-day society (clock-time, schedules, technology) to feel gratitude for and connect to this miracle that is LIFE?

We, as humans, have a beautiful advantage in this life – we have the ability to be conscious of our own consciousness. This is probably why (even as a biproduct) we hold the status we do on Earth, at the top of the food chain. Essentially, we have the ability to be a part of the spirit of life as it flows through and within us just as much as we are able to witness the Aliveness pulsate from an objective view. We can, cohesively, experience the pulses of life as US (breath, heartbeat, thoughts, etc.), and, simultaneously, witness those pulses as they unfold (neutrally “watch” thoughts, emotions, sensations as they occur).

This requires us to be still enough to experience AND observe the subtle pulsations. As we practice releasing the restraints of the mind, the illusionary veil of separation and fear will eventually lift – we surrender into a “remembering” of the universal rhythm of life.

This connection to lifeforce occurs when we are fully present and immersed in the wonder of this moment. It is beyond minds ability to attach, avert, or judge – this connection is rooted in the true power of the body. Even if only for a moment or two, we can sense from deep within ourselves, the vastness of lifeforce. If you have a difficult time “sensing” this vastness – with enough stillness, you can surely feel your breath moving itself and your heart beating itself. Feel into the force that is behind the breath, behind the heartbeat.

We can also become conscious of the pulsations inside AND outside – pulsations of the Earth – driven by the same lifeforce.

You could call this connecting to the entire Web of Life – life inside our “vessels” (aka our bodies) & life outside our “vessels” – ignited & propelled by the same source.

It is sometimes easier to connect to Earth’s lifeforce first…

Contemplate being in nature – it is quite simple to feel enchanted there…

When immersed in the natural world, we observe & also rest as a part of the universal flow and vibration of life. We sync with the natural rhythm. We hear the sounds – wind as it blows the trees, animals shuffling or insects flying by, waves crashing, birds chirping. We feel the breeze on our skin or the toasty sun as it warms our body. We gaze upon nature beings interacting within the circle of life – in alignment with all of the other beings around. We smell the vital, pure air that is so deeply fresh. We taste our snacks as they bounce in our mouths, full of flavor – and for some reason, we are totally occupied by a state of wonder & gratitude for life.

The most direct way to connect with the lifeforce in your body is to connect with the Earth. The Earth and our Earth bodies are inseparable. Our body is a piece of the bigger Earth. We can view our inner world & our outer world as mirrors linked by the same force – of life. When we allow the natural rhythm of life to flow through & within us (instead of artificial rhythms) – we allow nature to do what it does best. We surrender to the universal flow of the Cosmos as it occurs within US.

We are, then, Conscious of our own Aliveness.

With Love & So Much Gratitude,

Thank you –

Shanin Weisberg

Diet/Lifestyle/Spiritual Services, Yoga Teacher, Healing Sessions

https://surrendertosoulwellness.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SurrendertoSoulWellness/

Doing vs. Being

I’d say it’s officially SPRING – with maybe even a touch of summer (at least here in CO :P). Perhaps you feel the increase of energy that goes along with this change of season. I know I am! For me, it tends to manifest as an extra chatty mind or busy “to-do” lists. This could (and probably will!) show up in a different way for you. Regardless of how this propulsion into a warm, active season is revealing in your life, we could all invite in a little less “DO” & a little more “BE”. We can then find our own unique balance of these two energies (DO & BE) as they merge in our everyday life. These last few weeks have brought me back to this simple, but profound practice.

So – what is the difference between doing vs. being?

Doing is the action you take in the world. We are doing when we turn a thought or belief into our physical reality by action. Mowing the lawn, tending to the garden, driving our car, working at the office, preparing our dinner, etc. – these are all actions we “DO” – can you feel into the energy of doing?

Being naturally occurs when we are completely present – when our entire awareness is rooted in our body (not in our thinking mind!). We are being when we experience every sensation, every emotion, every action, even every stream of thought as the experience unfolds, fully immersed in that very moment. It is actually impossible to “BE” when we are in our mental space, having conversations within our own mind – spiraling thoughts around & around. Being requires us to feel, not to think. Practicing yoga, talking a walk out in nature, listening to waves crash on the beach, eating a meal without distraction, meditating peacefully, etc. – these are all experiences for which we “BE” – can you feel into the energy of being?

Now – we are humans functioning in a present-day society. We have lives to life & things to do. But, we also have the ability to gift ourselves with each experience as it occurs, moment by moment. It IS possible to be fully present & aware as we go about our daily tasks. It is also possible to (if we need to) pencil in time slots so that we can BE – go for a walk, practice yoga, or whatever else is suitable for you! I know – it seems simple as written text but is much more challenging to invite in as a part of our reality. That is why it is a practice, always ?.

Start to contemplate: Ask yourself how you can incorporate more being during this shift into activity. Then ask yourself how you can be in all that you do. Maybe journal about it, chat with a friend, or write a comment & let me know how it’s going!

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All my LOVE,

Shanin Weisberg

Owner/Founder of Surrender to Soul Wellness

Diet/Lifestyle/Spiritual Services, Yoga Instructor, Healing Sessions